Shoko Kasanami, AASW

Shoko Kasanami is a licensed social worker in Australia who combines professional training with personal experience to support people facing depression, anxiety, addictions, low self-esteem and other mental health challenges. Having moved from Canada and completed a Master of Social Work, she brings more than four years of practice working with individuals who have complex backgrounds. Her AASW credential indicates membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers and reflects her commitment to professional standards.

Shoko has worked in government child protection, gaining firsthand insight into family and safeguarding matters, and she currently contributes to an organisation focused on offender rehabilitation. Those roles have shaped a practical, trauma-informed perspective that informs her day-to-day work with clients. She focuses on helping people manage stress, cope with life changes, and address mood disorders while also attending to related concerns such as body image, guilt and shame, isolation and loneliness, life purpose, self-love, and social anxiety and phobia.

In sessions she aims to provide a non-judgmental environment where people can explore their feelings and set achievable goals. Fluent in English and Japanese, Shoko is comfortable working with clients in either language. Outside of her clinical work she enjoys motorcycles, skateboarding, and music, interests that contribute to a relatable and down-to-earth therapeutic style.

Evidence-informed approaches for online support

Shoko draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Narrative Therapy in online sessions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and developing practical skills to manage symptoms like anxiety, depression and stress. Narrative Therapy helps people separate themselves from their problems by exploring the stories they tell about their lives and finding new meanings that support recovery and self-worth.

Finding the right approach is treated as a collaborative process. Shoko works with each person to assess their needs, goals and preferences, adapting methods over time so the therapeutic plan fits the individual rather than forcing a single model onto every situation.

Online therapy with Shoko is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging, giving flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to access regular support from licensed professionals and allow therapy to continue from home, work or other convenient locations while maintaining a consistent therapeutic relationship.